I paid into social security while I was in the military. When I retired from the military with my 20 year letter, I became a teacher. I know have 16 years with Texas Teachers Retirement and hope to retire from teaching in about four years after this current school year. As I understood it the WEP was going to reduce my future social security by 50% but now if it gets signed into law then I can get my total earned social security plus my military pension and teacher pension. This is a true Christmas present for me and other like me.
That’s such a heartfelt story-thank you for sharing your journey! - it’s truly inspiring! How do you feel this change could motivate others in similar careers to pursue their retirement goals? Do you think this kind of reform could encourage more people to consider careers in public service?
@@TrueScopeNetwork I know teachers who have left teaching because they had 10 plus years working in a career that paid into social security and they wanted to max their social security. Once you get vested in your teacher pension (at least in Texas) you will draw when you reach age 65 or you meet the rule of "80" (or another number based on when you got hired). Your teacher pension would be about half of the average of your top five earning years. If you had 30 years paying into social security then you would not get a WEP reduction. If you paid in 20 years or less to social security then those benefits would be reduced by 50% (5% more for each year over 20 years). To answer your question; For teachers who had two careers (teaching and something that paid into SSI) then they can keep teaching if they wish without an incentive to leave teaching to ramp their social security back up. It will also drive more people into teaching as a second career after they retire from their first career because you can get a vested teacher pension with 10 less years invested in most states.
I know someone older than I am who retied from active duty Army and became a teacher for 7 years. He was 65 after those 7 years and retired from teaching to draw both pensions.
@@ronniefranklin4423 Thank you for this detailed explanation-it’s really insightful! Who knows if the possibility of drawing two pensions, like in the example you shared, could encourage more people to transition into teaching as a second career? And how might this impact the quality and retention of educators in the long term? Your perspective is fascinating, and I'd love to hear more!
The naysayers say the Fairness Act costs "196 billion $" for 2.8 million WEP-GPO victims. But never mentions the 10's of million $'s paid by them & their brothers & sisters who paid in the past & never received anything and may have already passed away unreimbursed for SS money owed. Also, the current 2.8 million owed beneficiaries are &/or were likely low paid workers and likely elderly with unfortunately possibly will not be around long approaching end of life issues. God bless them. The Fairness Act makes WEP & GPO victims in that 2.8 million group whole again & does not diminish the trust fund because they and those who came before them for over 40 years paid into the system emencely & got shortchanged. Also. The new generations & immigrants are currently paying into the system so it won't be insolvent in 10 years Retired Philadelphia Police Officer
Thank you for sharing such a detailed and heartfelt perspective. It’s clear you’re passionate about fairness for WEP and GPO-affected individuals. Do you believe more awareness and education around this issue could help garner broader support for the Fairness Act? What would you say to those who argue the cost outweighs the benefits? Your experience could provide valuable insights to the conversation! and help us delve deeper into the various aspects of the issue in our podcast.
Your ss payments will not go up unless you are the 4%of government retirees that already have a pention. It will add 200 billion in government debt and reduce your ss payments by 25% six months sooner. But pention workers will still get pention payments and 96% of us get screwed.
That's a great question! Do you think the changes should apply retroactively to benefit those already retired, or should they focus only on future retirees? What impact do you think it would have?
It’s definitely a frustrating situation! What do you think would be a fair way to ensure everyone on Social Security and SSDI gets what they deserve? Would a broader reform help address these issues?
You two are talking about something you don't know anything about, for goodness sakes. We paid into SS. Some of us had SS jobs before a pension job. Some of us had SS jobs after a pension jobs. Some of us had SS jobs while we had pension jobs. Some of us had Pension jobs that also paid SS. Or, a combination of the above. So, we DID pay into SS and you fail to mention that. Under WEP, after our rightful benefits are calculated, they were reduced by 60%. Thats the unfair part.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and providing more context-it’s clear you’ve experienced this issue firsthand. Do you think there’s a way to adjust WEP to make it fairer while still addressing the concerns about Social Security’s long-term sustainability? What changes would you propose to ensure everyone’s contributions are fairly recognized?
They don't understand we were stolen from! I PAID SS for 30+ years. I worked 10 years public sector ( a lower paying position) and paid into a pension program and paid into Medicare. My SS was reduced over half. I'm also a veteran. My husband ( a veteran) and I paid our fair share of SS, never took a handout, had our full retirement age bumped to 67 for full benefits...then we get our SS reduced because we both took public sector positions for ten years. It's stolen money-- what part don't you understand?
@@TrueScopeNetworkwhy not focus on the fraudsters, the cheaters and politicians raiding SS instead of scapegoating those of us who have been ripped off.
Elimination of the WEP gives govt pension workers a benefit that those of us who had both a full time job and a side job (both paying into SS) don't get. The govt worker how gets a 90% replacement rate SS benefit on the first $1000 month they earned on their non govt side job. Those of us who have a non-govt side job don't get 90%...we only get 40% or even less on the FICA tax we pay on the side job earnings. The SS bend points (higher SS replacement benefits for low wage earners and lower percentage replacement for higher wage earners) are supposed to reward low-wage workers at 90%, not those who have good earnings from a govt job who also had side or other non govt jobs but were never truly a low wage worker for most of their career. THAT is the unfair part!
@Robert-cr6uy you're assuming all government jobs are high paying. Educate yourself. Municipalities pay lower than private sector; you're assuming we get paid those bloated salaries of a federal worker. It's simply not true. I worked private sector 30 years and paid SS the entire time. I'm also a veteran. I worked a lower paying municipality position 10 years because it was better than nothing. I had to relocate to help care ailing parents. I lost 50 percent of SS because I earn a pension. This will restore what was stolen. Focus your anger on the frauds, the cheats and the politicians handing out our money to their lobbyists pet projects.
That's an interesting point! Do you think eliminating the Social Security tax cap would fully address funding issues, or should there also be other reforms to ensure long-term sustainability for the system?
Yes! We need to get away from the me me me stuff. As you said, "Social" Security is there to give a higher percentage to a lower paid worker than a higher paid worker. Often, a public sector worker (cop, firefighter, teacher, etc.) does not contribute to Social Security but may have other SS employment. They show up in the SS system as low income when in fact they are not. Hence, a pro-rated WEP is applied to those with non-contributing earnings and less than 30 years of "substantial" Social Security earnings. They've been paying into their own generous retirement systems from which they will be rewarded. Fairness or greed??
That’s a thoughtful perspective-thank you for sharing! Do you think the current system strikes the right balance between fairness and sustainability, or are there specific changes you would propose to ensure both public sector workers and lower-income earners are treated equitably? How can we address these challenges while keeping Social Security robust for future generations?
Most of the WEP-GPO workers who paid into the system on their non civil service jobs are low paid too. What part of that do you not understand. They are entitled not to be financially penalized for having a previous gov. Pension plus paid SS on other jobs before. During & after their public service "retirement." Understand; Most Cops & Firefighters @ the street level are low paid earners & leave i.e. "retire" from their civil service jobs at or around 45 years of age & had SS paying jobs before during & after civil service. I retired from Law enforcement @ 45 ,& I am still working @ 70, & because of WEP they took $772 a month of my benefit. 2/3 of it & my pension is low. Ret. PHILA. POLICE
Trump has very little time to correct the shortfall in S.S. for the remaining 68 million retirees. Its if the GOP gets 68 million votes in the midterms or not.
That's an interesting point! Do you think addressing the Social Security shortfall could genuinely sway the 68 million retirees to vote in favor of the GOP, or are there other key issues that might influence their decision more?
@@TrueScopeNetwork All retirees are struggling with the huge increases in prices that are now more caused by the trippling of minimum wages which means that the prices will not come down. Everyone gets an increase except people on fixed income.
Sorry, Trump is on record for supporting the Fairness Act. He will let it stand & he promises to stop taxing SS. For Many SS recipients 85% of their SS income is taxed federally now. But Trump professes to stop that ,& not tax tips also. RETIRED Phila. Police Officer
@@davelewis4064 You bring up an important point about the challenges retirees face with rising costs. Do you think there should be a stronger mechanism to adjust fixed incomes, to better match inflation and wage increases? What solutions should they adopt to support retirees in this situation?
I'm sorry you feel that way! What specific aspects of the bill do you think need better explanation or clarification? Your insights could help improve the conversation!
I paid into social security while I was in the military. When I retired from the military with my 20 year letter, I became a teacher. I know have 16 years with Texas Teachers Retirement and hope to retire from teaching in about four years after this current school year. As I understood it the WEP was going to reduce my future social security by 50% but now if it gets signed into law then I can get my total earned social security plus my military pension and teacher pension. This is a true Christmas present for me and other like me.
That’s such a heartfelt story-thank you for sharing your journey! - it’s truly inspiring! How do you feel this change could motivate others in similar careers to pursue their retirement goals? Do you think this kind of reform could encourage more people to consider careers in public service?
@@TrueScopeNetwork I know teachers who have left teaching because they had 10 plus years working in a career that paid into social security and they wanted to max their social security.
Once you get vested in your teacher pension (at least in Texas) you will draw when you reach age 65 or you meet the rule of "80" (or another number based on when you got hired). Your teacher pension would be about half of the average of your top five earning years. If you had 30 years paying into social security then you would not get a WEP reduction. If you paid in 20 years or less to social security then those benefits would be reduced by 50% (5% more for each year over 20 years).
To answer your question; For teachers who had two careers (teaching and something that paid into SSI) then they can keep teaching if they wish without an incentive to leave teaching to ramp their social security back up.
It will also drive more people into teaching as a second career after they retire from their first career because you can get a vested teacher pension with 10 less years invested in most states.
I know someone older than I am who retied from active duty Army and became a teacher for 7 years. He was 65 after those 7 years and retired from teaching to draw both pensions.
@@ronniefranklin4423 Thank you for this detailed explanation-it’s really insightful! Who knows if the possibility of drawing two pensions, like in the example you shared, could encourage more people to transition into teaching as a second career? And how might this impact the quality and retention of educators in the long term? Your perspective is fascinating, and I'd love to hear more!
The naysayers say the Fairness Act costs "196 billion $" for 2.8 million WEP-GPO victims. But never mentions the 10's of million $'s paid by them & their brothers & sisters who paid in the past & never received anything and may have already passed away unreimbursed for SS money owed. Also, the current 2.8 million owed beneficiaries are &/or were likely low paid workers and likely elderly with unfortunately possibly will not be around long approaching end of life issues. God bless them. The Fairness Act makes WEP & GPO victims in that 2.8 million group whole again & does not diminish the trust fund because they and those who came before them for over 40 years paid into the system emencely & got shortchanged. Also. The new generations & immigrants are currently paying into the system so it won't be insolvent in 10 years
Retired Philadelphia Police Officer
Thank you for sharing such a detailed and heartfelt perspective. It’s clear you’re passionate about fairness for WEP and GPO-affected individuals. Do you believe more awareness and education around this issue could help garner broader support for the Fairness Act? What would you say to those who argue the cost outweighs the benefits? Your experience could provide valuable insights to the conversation! and help us delve deeper into the various aspects of the issue in our podcast.
For people that retired dose this aply to them
Your ss payments will not go up unless you are the 4%of government retirees that already have a pention. It will add 200 billion in government debt and reduce your ss payments by 25% six months sooner. But pention workers will still get pention payments and 96% of us get screwed.
That's a great question! Do you think the changes should apply retroactively to benefit those already retired, or should they focus only on future retirees? What impact do you think it would have?
This is so messed up! Everyone on S.S. and SSDI and ssa should get this . Wth
It’s definitely a frustrating situation! What do you think would be a fair way to ensure everyone on Social Security and SSDI gets what they deserve? Would a broader reform help address these issues?
You two are talking about something you don't know anything about, for goodness sakes. We paid into SS. Some of us had SS jobs before a pension job. Some of us had SS jobs after a pension jobs. Some of us had SS jobs while we had pension jobs. Some of us had Pension jobs that also paid SS. Or, a combination of the above. So, we DID pay into SS and you fail to mention that. Under WEP, after our rightful benefits are calculated, they were reduced by 60%. Thats the unfair part.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and providing more context-it’s clear you’ve experienced this issue firsthand. Do you think there’s a way to adjust WEP to make it fairer while still addressing the concerns about Social Security’s long-term sustainability? What changes would you propose to ensure everyone’s contributions are fairly recognized?
They don't understand we were stolen from! I PAID SS for 30+ years. I worked 10 years public sector ( a lower paying position) and paid into a pension program and paid into Medicare. My SS was reduced over half. I'm also a veteran. My husband ( a veteran) and I paid our fair share of SS, never took a handout, had our full retirement age bumped to 67 for full benefits...then we get our SS reduced because we both took public sector positions for ten years. It's stolen money-- what part don't you understand?
@@TrueScopeNetworkwhy not focus on the fraudsters, the cheaters and politicians raiding SS instead of scapegoating those of us who have been ripped off.
Elimination of the WEP gives govt pension workers a benefit that those of us who had both a full time job and a side job (both paying into SS) don't get. The govt worker how gets a 90% replacement rate SS benefit on the first $1000 month they earned on their non govt side job. Those of us who have a non-govt side job don't get 90%...we only get 40% or even less on the FICA tax we pay on the side job earnings.
The SS bend points (higher SS replacement benefits for low wage earners and lower percentage replacement for higher wage earners) are supposed to reward low-wage workers at 90%, not those who have good earnings from a govt job who also had side or other non govt jobs but were never truly a low wage worker for most of their career.
THAT is the unfair part!
@Robert-cr6uy you're assuming all government jobs are high paying. Educate yourself. Municipalities pay lower than private sector; you're assuming we get paid those bloated salaries of a federal worker. It's simply not true. I worked private sector 30 years and paid SS the entire time. I'm also a veteran. I worked a lower paying municipality position 10 years because it was better than nothing. I had to relocate to help care ailing parents. I lost 50 percent of SS because I earn a pension. This will restore what was stolen. Focus your anger on the frauds, the cheats and the politicians handing out our money to their lobbyists pet projects.
eliminate the Social Security Tax cap. This is unfair to have a cap.
That's an interesting point! Do you think eliminating the Social Security tax cap would fully address funding issues, or should there also be other reforms to ensure long-term sustainability for the system?
Yes! We need to get away from the me me me stuff. As you said, "Social" Security is there to give a higher percentage to a lower paid worker than a higher paid worker. Often, a public sector worker (cop, firefighter, teacher, etc.) does not contribute to Social Security but may have other SS employment. They show up in the SS system as low income when in fact they are not. Hence, a pro-rated WEP is applied to those with non-contributing earnings and less than 30 years of "substantial" Social Security earnings. They've been paying into their own generous retirement systems from which they will be rewarded. Fairness or greed??
That’s a thoughtful perspective-thank you for sharing! Do you think the current system strikes the right balance between fairness and sustainability, or are there specific changes you would propose to ensure both public sector workers and lower-income earners are treated equitably? How can we address these challenges while keeping Social Security robust for future generations?
Most of the WEP-GPO workers who paid into the system on their non civil service jobs are low paid too. What part of that do you not understand. They are entitled not to be financially penalized for having a previous gov. Pension plus paid SS on other jobs before. During & after their public service "retirement." Understand; Most Cops & Firefighters @ the street level are low paid earners & leave i.e. "retire" from their civil service jobs at or around 45 years of age & had SS paying jobs before during & after civil service. I retired from Law enforcement @ 45 ,& I am still working @ 70, & because of WEP they took $772 a month of my benefit. 2/3 of it & my pension is low. Ret. PHILA. POLICE
Trump has very little time to correct the shortfall in S.S. for the remaining 68 million retirees. Its if the GOP gets 68 million votes in the midterms or not.
That's an interesting point! Do you think addressing the Social Security shortfall could genuinely sway the 68 million retirees to vote in favor of the GOP, or are there other key issues that might influence their decision more?
@@TrueScopeNetwork All retirees are struggling with the huge increases in prices that are now more caused by the trippling of minimum wages which means that the prices will not come down. Everyone gets an increase except people on fixed income.
Sorry, Trump is on record for supporting the Fairness Act. He will let it stand & he promises to stop taxing SS. For Many SS recipients 85% of their SS income is taxed federally now. But Trump professes to stop that ,& not tax tips also. RETIRED Phila. Police Officer
@@davelewis4064 You bring up an important point about the challenges retirees face with rising costs. Do you think there should be a stronger mechanism to adjust fixed incomes, to better match inflation and wage increases? What solutions should they adopt to support retirees in this situation?
THESE ARE THE WORSE EXPLAINERS OF THE BILL.THAT I'VE HEARD YET.
I'm sorry you feel that way! What specific aspects of the bill do you think need better explanation or clarification? Your insights could help improve the conversation!